Al-Quadin Muhammad

Al-Quadin Muhammad is back in the NFL. Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star reports (via Twitter) that the Colts have promoted the defensive lineman from the practice squad. Linebacker Skai Moore has been waived to open a roster spot.

Muhammad, a 2017 sixth-round pick, was waived by the Saints in September following an underwhelming rookie campaign. The Miami product quickly caught on with the Colts, where he’s compiled eight tackles in four games this season. He was waived by the organization last week, but he subsequently signed with Indy’s practice squad.

The Colts’ decision to promote the 23-year-old could revolve around the health of defensive end Margus Hunt, who is dealing with a knee injury. Muhammad would likely slide behind backups Kemoko Turay and Jihad Ward on the depth chart, although he could also serve as a backup defensive tackle.

Moore, 23, joined the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker has collected two tackles in four games (one start) this season. The move leaves the Colts with only three outside linebackers in Najee Goode, Darius Leonard, and Matthew Adams.

Turbin, initially, was in line for a significant role in the Colts’ backfield this year. Those plans were derailed this summer when he was hit with a four-game suspension for performance enhancing substances.

The veteran returns to a backfield that is headlined by Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines, but he offers fresh legs on a short week for the Colts. It would not be surprising to see Turbin involved in the Colts rushing attack in his first game back.

For his career, Turbin has 1,344 yards and nine scores off of 351 carries. He also has 85 catches for 685 yards and three scores. Those totals were put on hold in Week 6 of last season when he suffered a season-ending elbow injury, but Bobby Turbo will now have an opportunity to reassert himself.

Basham’s departure comes fairly early for a third-round pick. Chosen on Day 2 of the 2017 draft, Basham has played in just one of Indianapolis’ four games this season. He suited up for 15 in 2017 but didn’t start any of those games. He recorded two sacks and forced a fumble as a rookie but only made seven tackles.

The Colts now have 2018 second-rounder Kemoko Turay as their only backup defensive end. Though, Jihad Ward was drafted to play end as a Raider. Still, it should be expected the Colts will make a move to add depth at this spot after waiving two of their backups.

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

The Saints signed their two third-round picks, linebacker Alex Anzalone (pick No. 76) and defensive end Trey Hendrickson (No. 103), as well as sixth-round DE Al-Quadin Muhammad(No. 196) on Thursday (via Anzalone’s Twitter account and Herbie Teope of NOLA.com). Thanks in part to shoulder injuries, Anzalone didn’t pick up significant playing time at Florida until last season, when he totaled 53 tackles and three sacks. Despite his relatively modest output with the Gators, Anzalone has the talent to be a three-down starter in the pros, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. Hendrickson, meanwhile, was quite productive at Florida Atlantic, where he tallied 41 tackles for loss and 29.5 sacks from 2013-16. Most of the damage came over the previous two years, as Hendrickson combined for 30 TFL and 23 sacks in that span. Muhammad, yet another prospect who played his college ball at a Florida-based institution (Miami), is coming off a troubled tenure with the Hurricanes. He missed all of 2014 on account of a suspension stemming from an altercation and then incurred yet another ban last year, one that led to his dismissal from Miami, for a violation of NCAA rules. The last time Muhammad took the field, in 2015, he put up 54 tackles (8.5 for loss) and five sacks.

The Packers have signed fourth-round running backJamaal Williams (No. 134), leaving only one of their 10 picks – third-round defensive tackle Montravius Adams – without a contract. Williams, the first of three running backs the Packers drafted this year, was a two-time 1,200-yard rusher at BYU. He finished his Cougars tenure with a career year in 2016, amassing 1,375 rushing yards (with a 5.9 yards-per-carry average) and 12 touchdowns in 10 games.